Jada Strong 
This year, Summer Smash definitely had its ups and downs. If you were there, you probably know some of the stuff I’m hinting at. If not, I’m here to clear the air on how the event went and some festival do’s and don’ts.
Before I start, let me just say I had LOADS of fun. This was the first big festival event I have ever attended, and it for sure left a good impression on me, ensuring that I one hundred percent will be attending next year. This year the event took place in Bridgeview, which is a small area southwest of Chicago. If you live in the city, the drive can range anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour long. Despite how far it is, the experience is worth it if you are coming to see artists that you love.
The lineup was strong and included Future, Kid Cudi, and Playboi Carti as headliners, along with other popular artists like GloRilla, NLE Choppa, G Herbo, Trippie Redd, Rico Nasty, BKtherula, and more. I only attended day two and day three, but this was enough for me to be able to see most of the artists I enjoy listening to. My favorite set was for sure Rico Nasty’s. The energy was on ten throughout the performance and the whole crowd stayed dancing and singing loudly to her best hits.
I went by myself, which is the first thing I wouldn’t recommend doing. I linked up with some friends, but definitely find the people you plan to go with before you get there. It was hard navigating where I was, and you don’t want to lose your sense of direction and let your guard down. Once I found my friends it was a lot more enjoyable. The venue was really big, so I’d recommend downloading the Summer Smash app to see the map to learn about the times and locations for where each artist is performing beforehand.
I arrived at 2:00 pm for both days which allowed me to find decent parking and get there when most people hadn’t arrived yet. So I’d suggest you leave early to avoid heavy traffic flow. There were three performance stages, but the main one that I faced a lot of problems in was the Starry stage. This was the main stage where the headliners performed, and let me tell you, those mosh pits are no joke. Trying to get to the front of the crowd is not for the weak. Witnessing people passing out due to dehydration can be scary. I also saw loads of lost items on the ground, ranging from glasses to phones and house/car keys. I fell victim to my stuff falling out of my bag. With that said, I suggest you leave the open totes and purses at home. Come with a secure mini backpack that can hold all your valuables and water. I can’t stress this one enough.
The food was amazing, and they even posted a cute food “lineup” on the Summer Smash website. However, the one downside to this was the high prices. To ensure you are well fed, come with enough money. Each day cost me around $30 for food, and portions were relatively small. My suggestion: Eat beforehand, or set a budget for how much you plan to spend for each day of attendance.
My last piece of advice is don’t take anything from anyone! Be smart and be safe at places like these, because you never know who you can truly trust.
If you weren’t there this weekend, I hope this article helped you can live through a little bit of my experience. To see more content from the festival, you can check out True Star’s Instagram, @True.Chi. Love all of you, and as always, stay safe!
By Jada Strong, Sophomore, Whitney Young Magnet
Insta/Twitter: @JadaStrongg
True Star Media’s content is made possible thanks to donors like you. To support the voice and perspective of your youth, donate at elevate.truestarfoundation.org.
